Butte semi-weekly miner., 1887-03-30
OWNERSHIP OF LABOR.
BY SAMPLE H. ORR!

lDA oAMrAE H. OHR.i
!, Of late years no question has been more
prominently before the public than the
labor question; and there are few questions
more urgently demanding scientific investi.
cation. For until a subject is thoroughly
understood by those who are called upon
to deal with it, intelligent action or effective
remedies for the evils complained OF cannot
reasonably be expected. Any rational in.
vestigation of the labor problem involves
the study OF the science of economics in all
Its branches OF personal, social and peliti.
cal economy, as well as the sphere and
province OF legislation and the use and
functions of a monetary currency.
The science OF economics is yet in it's in
fancy. The technical meaning of the terms
necessarily introduced in it's discussion have
not as yet become settled. This often leads
to confusion of thought and renders it
difficult to gather an authors meaning.
The science OF economies treats OF wealth
and its relations to nature, to society and
to the Individual. Nature is the sole pro-
ducer OF wealth, as all things whatsoever
which possess a value in utility are primar-
liy the products OF nature. But most of
the products OF nature would speedily be
lost to the wealth of society through the
laws OF lnvolution as in the case of animal
and vegetable foods and clothing stuffs. or
remain locked up in forms inaccessible tn
the use OF man as in the case of minerals.
were it not that labor or human industry
here steps in and performs it's function of
preserving and preparing for the use of man
The things produced by nature. The labor
bestowed upon these goods, from the pre-
pairing OF the soil for cultivation, or the
opening of the mine, to the final act of nut. |
ting the goods in the place where offered for
sale Is, by the writer's on economy, termed |
the cost of production.
There is then, in the act OF production. g.
preservation OF the article furnished by
nature, as we'll as a conservation of the
labor OF production in proportion to the
degree in which such labor tends to enha
the usefulness of the article produced
The value in utility OF the finished
product is determined by the power to
supply the wants Of mankind, and it ia
OF such value that tho entire economic
wealth OF society is constituted. Value in
utility, it will readily be seen, is a constant.
unvarying quantity. Value in exchange
which. when computed in the terms of the
medium OF exchange, becomes price, is the
amount OF labor or goods for which a.
thing or service will exchange, and is a va
nable quantity. Under the operation of /.
natural laws, however, the price of any
Thing would be determined by it's value in .
Utility, subject only to fluctuations, due to .
seasons OF scarcity and plenty. In the -.
markets OF the world at present the prices :
II many articles have little relation to .
heir utility or to the cost OF production; -
'ut is controlled, rather, by the extent to !.
which the natural sources of production or
ne industrial means of production can be
As the power to thus monopolize produc.
ion. like all other branches of commerce.
as it's seat in the absolutism of private
wnership OF property, it now becomes :.
ecessary to enquire into the nature and :.
rigin OF property rights. In doing ~
als cannot do better than :"